Ball type game

ABSTRACT

A portable game embodying a frame into which is slidingly received one of a plurality of different game boards the upper surface of which forms the game area on which balls are projected to desired locations by means of a portable self-contained spring operated shooting device. The balls eventually fall from the game board onto an inclined return platform for return to a desired location. The shooting device includes a housing having a flat base, a plunger received in a bore provided in the housing and a spring positioned in the bore for urging the plunger forward in the bore. The shooting device is also provided with a spring biased operating device positioned within a second bore in the housing, the second bore being perpendicular to the first mentioned bore. The plunger is provided with a plurality of operating device receiving recesses for retaining the plunger in a plurality of cocked positions.

United States Patent [19']- Rohrmuller" Aug. 13, 1974 [22] Filed:

[ BALL TYPE GAME [76] Inventor: August Rohrmuller, 198-40 32 Ave., Flushing, NY. 11358 July 5, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 269,033

[52] US. Cl. 273/125 R, 273/129, 273/11 R,

' 273/69, 124/38 [51 Int. Cl A63b 3/02 58 Field of Search 273/118 R, 118 A, 118 D,

273/119 R, 119 A, 119 B, 120 R, 120 A, 121 R, 121 A, 121 D, 121 E, 122 R, 122 A, 123 R, 123 A, 125 R,4R, 11 R, 11 C, 108, 109,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,138,859 12/1938 Hubbard et a1 273/121 D 2,298,300 10/1942 Klemm 273/118 D 2,791,210 5/1957 Vog et a1. 124/16 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 549,798 5/1932 Germany 273/119 B 252,478 6/1926 Great Britain 273/121 R 697,549 10/1940 Germany 273/125 Primary ExaminerAnton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Theatrice Brown [5 7] ABSTRACT A portable game embodying a frame into which is slidingly received one of a plurality of different game boards the upper surface of which forms the game area on which balls are projected to desired locations by means of a portable self-contained spring operated shooting device. The balls eventually fall from the game board onto an inclined return platform for return to a desired location. The shooting device includes a housing having a flat base, a plunger received in a bore provided in the housing and a spring positioned in the bore for urging the plunger forward in the bore. The shooting device 'is also provided with a spring biased operating device positioned within a second bore in the housing, the second bore being perpendicular to the first mentioned bore. The plunger is provided with a plurality of operating device receiving recesses for retaining the plunger in a plurality of cocked positions.

BALL TYPE GAME BACKGROUND AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION In accordance with the invention, there is provided a ball type game utilizing a self-contained spring operated shooting device with the game being portable and being so constructed and arranged that several different game boards may be utilized so as to provide a more interesting arrangement. The invention is com prised of a frame member which has one end open and which is so constructed as to slidingly receive a desired game board in its upper region and to hold it firmly in place with there being then disposed above the game board a suitable resilient bumper for the balls that are employed in playing the game. The game board as thus slidably received within the frame member is easily removable and thus can be replaced by another and different board when desired. Generally in the lower region of the frame there is provided an inclined ramp throughout the length and width of the frame member and forming an integral part of the frame member with this ramp slanting toward the open end of the frame member when the member is so disposed that the game board as thus positioned within the frame member is level.

The game board is so constructed and arranged so as to be played by projecting balls upon the upper surface of the board and there is provided for this purpose a portable self-containedv spring operated shooting de vice which has a spring operated plunger, a button operated release mechanism and is provided with a flat bottom for positioning on the game board. The force by means of which the plunger may be impelled against a ball can be varied and by means of this shooting device the chances of damaging the surface of the game board is extremely remote if not completely eliminated as contrasted with the conventional pool stick type of shooter.

The devicecan thus be easily played by small children who can achieve greater accuracy and considerable entertainment without having to be highly coordinated and without damage to the game itself.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the portable spring operated self-contained shooting device that forms a portion of the game.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the frame portion of the game per se.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of one of the game boards showing the shooter positioned thereon in its proper operating position.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of another game board also showing the shooter positioned thereon.

FIG. 5 is a side view taken generally from line 55 of FIG. 4.

Referringnow to the drawings wherein like reference numerals are used throughout to designate like elements, the illustrative and preferred embodiment of the invention depicted therein includes the self-contained shooting member that has a housing 12 provided with a bore 14 for receipt of the plunger 16. The bore 14 extends all the way through the housing 12 and is threaded at its far end as viewed in FIG. 1 so as to threadedly receive the cap screw 18. This screw retains spring in place so as to urge the plunger 16 into its forward position. Operation of the plunger is controlled by the operating button or member 22. This member is suitably bored at 24 for receipt of the plunger 16 therewithin. The button 22 is biased upwardly by means of spring 26 which is pressed between the lower end of the button and the bottom of the recess 28 within which the button is received. The button is formed so that it is provided at the lower region of the bore 24 with a narrow portion 30 having a dimension axially of the plunger 16 such that it will be received in the recesses 32 and 34 provided in the plunger.

The shooting device thus operates in the following manner. The plunger is depressed or pushed manually inwardly of the bore 14 until the portion 30 is received either in recess 32 or 34. The portion 30 will automatically be received in recess 32 unless the plunger is pushed downwardly so as to bypass this recess and then it will be received in recess 34. When the plunger is pushed inwardly to the position where recess 34 is engaged, spring 20 wil be compressed a greater amount than the corresponding position where recess 32 is engaged. This provides for varying the force by means of which the plunger strikes the ball. Once the shooting device is cocked it is activated by means of depressing the button 22. This will permit the plunger to move forward under the influence of spring 20 until the shoulder portion 36 engages the button 22 and thereby stops the forward motion of the plunger.

The housing portion 12 is provided with a flat base 38 which rests upon the game board with which the shooter is used so that the plunger '16 is in its horizontal position and thereby accurately strikes the ball.

Forming a portion of the game of the present invention is the frame 40 which includes the side walls 42 and 44 and the end walls 46 and 48. These walls can advantageously be fabricated of plastic or plywood (or any other desired material) and there is fastened within these walls the inclined return platform which as viewed in FIG. 2 inclines from the end wall 46 toward the end wall 48. This incline provides for return of the balls of the game to the front end of the frame 40 or in other words the end of the end wall 48. This latter end wall has substantially less height than the rear end wall 46 and the side walls adjacent the end wall 48 are curved downwardly as shown. There is preferably mounted on the platform 50 a resilient deflecting member 52 to deflect the returning or spent balls to the right hand region of the front portion of the frame. The returned balls will thus be collected in this region while the balls yet to be played may be retained in the region to the left of the deflecting member 52. This member is preferably fixedly secured at its upper end so that its lower end may be flexed or bent away from the end wall 48 to allow the returned balls to be moved to the left region of the frame upon the end of one game and the start of another.

There is formed in the upper region and on the inwardly projecting surface of the side walls 42 and 44 and the end wall 46 an elongated recess 54 for slidably receiving a game board and securely holding it in position within the frame. There is also provided in the frame a groove spaced above the recess 54 and within this groove is mounted a suitable resilient bumper strip 56. When a game board is properly positioned and received in the recess 54 the front end of the board will generally be positioned in conformity with the dot-dash line 51 such that the front region of the frame 40 where the balls are retained is easily accessible.

In the illustrative arrangement of the invention there are two game boards which may be uilized with and which form a part of the frame member when positioned therewithin. The first game board 61 shown in FIG. 3 is for a game where balls are to be so projected on the surface of the board so that they fall through the numbered holes with these numbers providing the score of the participant. The shooter is at all times maintained behind the starting line 58. A ball which acts as a cue ball is placed at the location 60 and at the start a ball is placed at the location 62. There is provided at the location 64 a pin member which will be knocked down if hit by one of the balls. Thus at the start the cue ball is projected by means of shooter 10 so as to impinge upon the ball at location 62 with the idea being to sink one or both of the balls through the numbered openings. After the start another ball is placed at the location 60 to act as a cue ball so as to sink any remaining balls on the table wherever they may be. This is repeated until all of the balls are used with there preferably being fifteen balls used with the game. If the 'pin member 64 is knocked down the player loses all the points that he has accumulated up until that time. The balls that are sunk through the numbered openings return to-the front of the frame 42 by means of the inclined platform 50. The forward end of the game board terminates at the forward end of slots 54 so that the balls that are thus returned are accessible with the forward end of platform 50 and the front end wall 48 extending well in front of the forward portion of the game board.

The game board 61 is, of course, level while the game is being played and the upper surface of the board is preferably provided with a felt backing.

In lieu of the game board 61 of FIG. 3 the game board 68 of FIG. 4 may be utilized with this game board being essentially that of the design of a pool table having six openings corresponding to the pockets and with this game baord identified as 68 having a front edge 70 which is provided with a bumper 72 in the same position and similar to the bumper strip 56 in the side walls 40 and 42 and the end wall 46. Thus when game board 68 is slidably received in the recesses 54 there is formed a miniature pool table top which has a rim extending completely around it and thus the game similar to that of pool may be played thereon with the shooter l0 projecting the cue ball 74 against the balls 76 with the objective being to sink these balls in the corner or side pockets. These balls will be returned as previously: described by means of the inclined return platform 50.

It will be understood that the game boards are of a thickness such that they are rigid and will retain their flatness during normal handling and utilization of the game. The thickness of the board is such that with relation to the recess 54 the board is securely held in place once it is slid into its proper position in the frame.

As a result of having the frame base 38 provided on the shooter 10, the shooter will always be correctly positioned with relation to the ball with which it is used with the arrangement being such that the axis of the plunger 16 is spaced from the surface of the game board the same distance as the center of the ball. This provides for accurate shooting and since the plunger is horizontal there is no chance for damaging of the upper surface of the game board by ripping of the felt or the like.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that such is merely illustrative and not restrictive and that variations and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes as fall within the purview of my invention.

What I claim is:

l. A game device having balls that are projected by means of a shooting device and including in combination a framewithin which is snugly but slidably received a game board on the upper surface of which the game is to be played, said frame having side walls and end walls with a recess provided in said side walls and one of said end walls for receiving said game board, another recess parallel with and spaced above the firstmentioned recess and having therein a suitable flexible bumper strip disposed to be engaged by the balls of the game during playing thereof, a return ball platform within said frame spaced below said game board and slanting downward toward the end of the frame into which said game board is introduced, said platform extending beyond said game board at such end, a resilient deflector member mounted on said platform effective to cause the balls rolling down the platform to be laterally displaced to one side of the platform, said member extending from one side wall diagonally to the other end wall and fixed at the end adjacent said one side wall, said member being flexible so the end adjacent said other end wall can be displaced to allow the balls to be moved to the other side of the platform, a portable self-contained shooting device including a housing having a flat base, a plunger received in a suitable bore provided in said housing, said bore being parallel with said base and positioned thereabove a distance approximately the radius of the balls of the game, spring means urging said plunger forward in said bore, an operating vertically reciprocable device spring biased to a position for retaining said plunger in a retracted position in the bore and manually moved out of such position, said plunger having annular recesses within which a portion of said operating device is received to retain said plunger in its retracted position, said recesses being axially spaced such that the axial position of the plunger may be varied. 

1. A game device having balls that are projected by means of a shooting device and including in combination a frame within which is snugly but slidably received a game board on the upper surface of which the game is to be played, said frame having side walls and end walls with a recess provided in said side walls and one of said end walls for receiving said game board, another recess parallel with and spaced above the first-mentioned recess and having therein a suitable flexible bumper strip disposed to be engaged by the balls of the game during playing thereof, a return ball platform within said frame spaced below said game board and slanting downward toward the end of the frame into which said game board is introduced, said platform extending beyond said game board at such end, a resilient deflector member mounted on said platform effective to cause the balls rolling down the platform to be laterally displaced to one side of the platform, said member extending from one side wall diagonally to the other end wall and fixed at the end adjacent said one side wall, said member being flexible so the end adjacent said other end wall can be displaced to allow the balls to be moved to the other side of the platform, a portable self-contained shooting device including a housing having a flat base, a plunger received in a suitable bore provided in said housing, said bore being parallel with said base and positioned thereabove a distance approximately the radius of the balls of the game, spring means urging said plunger forward in said bore, an operating vertically reciprocable device spring biased to a position for retaining said plunger in a retracted position in the bore and manually moved out of such position, said plunger having annular recesses within which a portion of said operating device is received to retain said plunger in its retracted position, said recesses being axially spaced such that the axial position of the plunger may be varied. 